President Jim Schmidt opened the meeting by asking Ray Smith to lead members and guests in singing "My Wild Irish Rose.  Dick Myren offered the invocation and Ted Williams led the Pledge of Allegiance.  
 
Guests
John Pennypacker introduced Noah Jennings who planned to stay following the meeting to gather signatures that are a State Statute requirement in order for any candidate to have their name on the election ballot as a candidate.  Polly Cady introduced Past District Governor Jim Erickson as "Mr. Fun."  Bob Zarling introduced Tahlonie Hendrix, an applicant for a grant from The Rotary Vocational Fund of Arizona.  Tahlonie had interviewed with Bob prior to the meeting seeking sponsorship of Mesa West Rotary.  Even though Mesa West would have no financial responsibility, in order for a TRVFA grant to be approved and funded, sponsorship of a Rotary Club is required.
 
Presidential Humor  
President Jim explained the difference between an actuary and an accountant.  He said the actuary is the one who doesn't seem to  have much personality.
 
Raffles
Allan Cady was the holder of the ticket drawn in the weekly raffle making him the immediate winner of $30.  He failed to draw the ace of clubs however.  When he drew the Queen of Clubs rather than the ace of clubs, he was disappointed but the other Rotarians in the room were glad to know the large pot, which is getting close to $1,000 will continue to grow.   Often, when the potential winnings get this large, club attendance improves.  Polly Schumacher was the winner of the weekly attendance drawing.
 
Happy Bucks
Greg Okonowski served as Sgt. at Arms collecting happy dollars from Rotarians.  Pam Cohen was happy to have travelled to Hermosillo Mexico the prior week to tour the Micro Credit project our club co-sponsors through The Rotary Foundation.  She was very happy to have learned what a big difference can be made in someone's life with a relatively small amount of money.  Dick Myren contributed his usual $1 on behalf of Honorary Member Rod Daniels plus a sad dollar because as an accountant now in his busy season, he was going to have to leave the meeting early.  Don LaBarge contributed.  He was happy to report he would be having dinner with Rod Daniels at a local casino.  He also told about having spent $600 to have his 2002 Ford Pickup detailed.  After he had it detailed, he somehow simultaneously left popcorn in the cab of the pickup and the windows down.  The next time he saw his truck that had "looked like new" the interior had bird poop everywhere.  Polly Cade contributed.  She was happy to have enjoyed a three-week cruise to South America.  Chris Krueger was happy to be at the meeting and looking forward to co-facilitating at Rotary Leadership Institute with Larry Horton on Saturday, February 8.  She was also happy to announce that she would be leaving Tuesday, February 11 for Cancun.  She reminded everyone it was not too late to sign up for RLI.  Penny May announced that Corona Beer was thinking or renaming their product "Ebola."  She had just recently returned from her vacation to Rarotonga which seems to be her favorite place to relax and enjoy life!  While there, she attended a Rotary makeup.  They had no banners.  One of their projects was to pick up students from school and take them home.  While there, she visited a place that operated very much like a senior center in the states but was called a "Place Where Respected Elders Gather."  Lola McClane put her last two dollars in the hat "just cuz."  Polly Schumacher contributed happy/sad dollars as twin granddaughters, juniors in college are studying abroad this semester.  Jianna at Lorenzo de Medici in Florence, Italy and Juliette at NYU in London, England  Polly hopes to visit them.  Jack Rosenberg was sad because he is experiencing some serious complications from the surgery he had in 2019.  After being told by other doctors it was inoperable, a surgeon at Mayo has assured him she can fix the problem.  He is scheduled for the repair surgery on March 9, and has been told he will likely miss two months of meeting with us.  Steve Ross was sad that Luin had said they would NOT be hosting a Super Bowl party this year.  He contributed $15 sad dollars - the number of Pat Mahomes who led the Kansas City Chiefs to victory - because he had to watch the game by himself.  Bob Zarling contributed in order to voice a commercial about there still being room to go with Lee Holmes to Africa in October.  They are now up to eleven or twelve Rotarians going on the trip.  The Limit is eighteen Rotarians.  Pam was happy to have enjoyed a new dessert while in Mexico - Camotes!  Wendell Jones was happy to have visited six of his grandchildren in Prescott on February 5.  All six were under the age of six.  Three little girls were triplets.  There was one set of twins - a boy and a girl, plus there was a baby girl.  Bob Jensen contributed sad dollars.  The school he works with for the Gift of Hearing clinic in Guaymas had been broken into.  He did not yet know if any supplies or equipment had been damaged or taken.  Joan Reimann contributed - she was "happy to be here."  
 
Aubrey Luma Honored
President Jim Schmidt asked Aubrey to come forward so he could thank her for her dedicated service as Executive Secretary for Mesa West Rotary.  Aubrey has accepted a new job which is in her line of training.  He told her that the club loved her and will miss her and that she will be the recipient of a $100 gift card.
 
Announcements
  • AG Lee Holmes made several announcements:
    • President-Elect Training Seminar (PETS) will be held March 6-7.  Registration is open on the District Website.  It will be held at the Doubletree by Hilton in Tempe.  
    • Rotary Leadership Institute (RLI) was scheduled to have all three sessions at the institute to be held at Grand Canyon University on February 8.  RLI is for new Rotarians who want to know more about Rotary beyond their own club and is also for older Rotarians who need to have the Rotary spirit rejuvenated.
    •  Superstition Mountain Rotary Club is hosting a fundraiser for The Rotary Foundation at the Barleen Family Dinner Show March 21 at 6:00 PM.  Information was on the table, but is also available on the District website and in the weekly notices from the district.  $32 of the ticket price of each ticket will go to TRF.  The goal is to sell 400 tickets.  200 have been sold so far.
    • Registration for the District Conference will be available by the end of February.
  • Don LaBarge announced that he has committed to two tables for the Barleen's event and urged members to contact him if they want to help him meet his commitment.
  • Polly Cady urged members to sign up for RLI Saturday February 8 and then plan to attend subsequent sessions to be scheduled later in the year.Check-in is at 8:30.  Sessions start at 9:00 and end by 4:00 PM
  • Chris Krueger reported that the Aqua Africa is now within $20,000 of their funding goal for the next project thanks to a $10,000 donation from John Pennypacker.
Rotary Minute
Bob Zarling used his minute to put in a plug for The Rotary Vocational Fund of Arizona (TRVFA).  He said the vocational program grants help the benefitting students.  Their improved earning capacity helps their families.  With TRVFA making this difference in many households each year, the program has a positive impact in the Arizona Economy.  This help can be given - often with not net cost to the donor(s) - as TRVFA is a Qualifying Charitable Organization.  Single donors can take up to a $400 tax credit for their donation and married donors can take up to $800 tax credit on their joint return.  This is available through April 15 for the 2019 tax year.  
 
Auction Items
Polly Cady told of some items in their auction bag which were purchased on their South American cruise  One item would help keep the buyer warm.  Another was a sweet edible.  One piece was wearable art (goes with wine) and a final piece was jewelry.  Joan Reimann's high bid of $65 made her the winner.
 
Program
Jeanie Morgan introduced Rev. Susan Casaro-Johnson, a friend, and a relatively new member of Superstition Mountain Rotary Club.  Susan had arranged for the program "Dispel Myths About Hospice" with Wendy Udall, a nurse, leading the discussion.  Both Susan and Wendy are employed by Hospice at Home of Arizona.
 
Wendy began by explaining that she had a Rotary Claim to Fame.  Her father, David Udall, was a Rotarian.  His club had a fee of $500 when members had a new grandchild.  Wendy had twins which cost him $1,000, which was a painful donation.  She said David was known as a "tightwad."  Some of the former Mesa Baseline members who were in Rotary with David seemed to think that might be a fair assessment.
 
The bust the myths about Hospice, Wendy who loves doing training, chose to answer the five "W's"
 
What?
End of Life Care - Comfort care for those who have a terminal diagnosis and want to end treatment so they can enjoy life.  It is not just for the very, very end of life.
 
Who?
Who pays for it?  Actually we have all been paying for it for quite a long time.  Back in the seventies, elected leaders figured out it would save money if people were able to use already-earned benefits and be allowed to spend their final days, weeks, and months in their own homes surrounded by the things and people that are dear and familiar.  Hospice at Home of Arizona has physicians who visit their patients in their homes.
 
When?
That is a big question.  In fact, many doctors don't seem to recognize when their patients are eligible because they are focused on trying to make them well.  One way family caregivers might know a patient is ready is when there is a six-month prognosis, or they can tell their loved one is feeling "done" with treatment.  Sometimes the switch to hospice care happens when the patient has obvious cognitive decline or is experiencing frequent falls.  Some patients go on and off hospice care several times.  They go into a cycle where they rally in the warmer, more relaxed atmosphere and go off hospice care.  They eventually have another decline and go back into hospice care, and rally again.  
 
Where?
Home - The definition of "home" can vary for patients.  It is wherever they reside.  Most prefer to be where they feel at home.
 
Why?
When the prognosis is not good and quality of life with curative treatment is at stake, the logical answer is, "Why not?"  
 
Hospice care is something that is chosen.   Hospice at Home of Arizona has a service area that reaches from Superior to Phoenix and includes Florence.  They have on-call staff residing throughout their service area so they can respond to a need within minutes.  At the time of their program at the Mesa West Rotary meeting, they had sixty employees on staff and 145 patients in their care.  Their administrator sits on the Medicare Governance Board.  They are able to maintain a quality work staff of seasoned nurses.  To go to work for their organization there is a three-tier interview process.  They are looking for staff that will value and live up to their four core values.